McDowell may have to demolish €600,000 holiday home
Justice Minister Michael McDowell may have to demolish his €600,000 holiday home in Co Roscommon because the structure does not have adequate planning permission.
The house in Rooskey, on the banks of the River Shannon, is almost completely built, but it emerged last night that the building does not comply with the planning permission granted.
The discrepancy came to light when the minister's wife, Niamh Brennan, applied for an extension of the original planning permission after it expired earlier this year.
Roscommon County Council turned down the application on the grounds that the building was significantly different to the one that was originally approved.
Mr McDowell has distanced himself from the controversy, saying the first he knew of any planning difficulties was when he was contacted by the media yesterday.
